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The Ultimate Crappie Burger Recipe

If you like crappie food, look no further than the Ultimate Crappie Burger recipe! Don’t let the name fool you, though; this unique take on the traditional crab cake is undeniably delicious.

Whether you get your fish straight from the lake or at the local grocery store, this simple burger recipe makes for a great meal any day of the week. It’s a little zesty, a little sweet, and a whole lotta crappie!

Did we mention it’s versatile, too? If the crappie fish isn’t your thing, this recipe tastes just as good with catfish, cod, tilapia, or whatever floats your boat. If you’re not feeling burgers, serve these patties as sides, on salads or all by themselves.

To be clear, you definitely DON’T have to catch your own fish to make this recipe shine. BUT, because we’re TRLT, we’re going to teach you how to catch and cook it from the bait shop all the way to the frying pan! Now, let’s go fishing with TRLT Senior Stewardship Associate, Matthew Williams.

A CRAPPIE FISHING GUIDE

As the summer heat begins to fade, most folks get that itch to head outside and enjoy the approach of cooler temperatures. One way I like to soak up this awesome time of year is to get out on the water and do some crappie fishing. Black Crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) and White Crappie (Pomoxis annularis) are a species of freshwater panfish/sunfish which are relatively easy to catch and make for excellent table fare.

Crappie fishing during the months of September and October can produce some fun and memorable days on the water. During this time of year, crappie are on the move to deeper waters in preparation for winter’s colder water temperatures. These crappie hold to different types of structures depending on the body of water. They will often move into deep waters and utilize submerged wood, tree stumps, tree tops and rock structures. In fact, one of my favorite places to find schools of crappie is on bridge pilings. These structures are a great place to find crappie because there are almost always baitfish there for them to feed on, as well as breaks in water currents which allow them to hang out without expending too much energy.

Crappie fishing can be relatively inexpensive, but it can get pretty high tech as well. When it comes to technology, I fall somewhere in the middle. I have a 16-foot Jon boat with a 1989 25HP Mercury 2-Stroke that can get me anywhere that I want to go on the lake. I also own an older edition Lowrance Elite 7-TI2 unit that offers traditional sonar as well as Side-Scan and Down-Scan sonar.

During this particular trip, I used Side-Scan and Down-Scan sonar technology to identify Crappie-friendly structures like stumps, logs, treetops, concrete bridge pilings and anything else in 15-30 feet of water. Once I locate a structure in a good spot, I use Down-Scan and traditional sonar to identify at what depth the fish are holding. Once identified, I suspend my baits just above that depth. Crappie usually feed in the upward direction, so if your bait is staying under the fish, your success will be greatly reduced.

If you don’t have access to a boat or sonar technologies, don’t worry. I’ve seen bank fishermen catch plenty of fish while I scratch my head and try to figure out what I’m doing wrong. Fishing in deeper water around docks or bridge pilings is your best bet for catching crappie. Without knowing the depth of the fish, you’ll just have to vary the depth you’re fishing until you find the sweet spot.

Did you know?

Crappie may have a funny-sounding name in our neck of the woods, but different regions know them by many different names, such as papermouths, strawberry bass, specks, speckled bass, speckled perch, white perch, calico bass, Oswego bass, and sac-a-lait.

CRAPPIE GEAR

There are tons of techniques to target crappie, but if (like me) you prefer to keep it simple, nothing beats the effectiveness, fun and excitement of catching crappie with a bobber and a live minnow. This timeless fishing method is one of the most common introductions to amateur anglers, and it’s still a go-to for fishermen of all experience levels. At a minimum for this setup, you’ll need the following gear (my recommendation in links):

Ultra-Light to Light action Spinning Rod and Spinning Reel

This needs to be a small, lightweight spinning reel that’s designed for 4-6 lb fishing line.

4-6lb Monofilament Fishing Line

• I usually use whatever is most cost effective when purchasing fishing line. For crappie fishing, you don’t need anything fancy when it comes to fishing line. The important thing is that the fishing line is a small diameter, because many people believe that crappie can see large diameter fishing lines.

Bobber Stops

Bobber stops can be bought in packs, or even tied at home if you desire. I prefer to buy the packs, as they’re relatively inexpensive and they come with the little beads that you need to make them work correctly.

Cigar Foam Float

I personally like to use the 3” cigar foam floats. They are very versatile and can be used for many different applications.

Split-Shot Weight

I prefer a ¼ oz split-shot weight if I’m using 3” cigar floats because they allow the cigar foam float to sit correctly in the water.

#6 Eagle Claw Cricket hooks

Although the name is “cricket hooks”, I love these hooks for crappie fishing with minnows. The long shanks make the hook much easier for removing smaller fish. The light gauge wire construction of this hook allows you to easily unsnag it. Pull it just enough so that the hook straightens out and keeps you from losing tackle.

Bait Bucket

This can be a regular 5-gallon bucket, or you can have a fancy insulated bucket with aeration. As long as it keeps your live bait – well…live – it’s up to you. Here’s my personal favorite.

Live minnows

Live minnows are the best way to catch crappie without a learning curve. Just visit any bait store and ask for crappie minnows or small minnows. Most shops will know what you want.

A couple extra items I recommend are a pair of needle nose pliers for removing fish hooks, and a pocket knife (or even pair of finger nail clippers!) to cut your fishing line with.

Once you have your gear and a current freshwater fishing license, you’re ready to hit the water. Then, after the catch comes the main event.

THE ULTIMATE CRAPPIE BURGER RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

CRAPPIE CAKE INGREDIENTS

1/2 lb crappie or catfish (fresh or frozen)

1 large green bell pepper

1 large vidalia onion (or onion of your choice)

1 tbsp green onion

1 tbsp olive oil (or oil of your choosing)

2 tbsp mustard

2 tbsp mayonnaise

Seafood seasoning to taste

Salt and pepper to taste

AOILI INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup mayo

1 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp cayenne pepper

2 tsp garlic paste or minced garlic

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1: PREHEAT OVEN

Preheat oven to 350°F.

STEP 2: MAKE THE AIOLI

In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic and seasoning.
Stir together until consistency is smooth and creamy.
Set aside or store in refrigerator until ready to use.

STEP 3: CHOP VEGETABLES

Finely chop green bell pepper, onion, and green onions. Set aside.
Crush 1 sleeve of buttered crackers. Set aside.

STEP 4: PREPARE FISH

Line cooking sheet or parchment paper with cleaned and rinsed fish fillets.
Evenly line cooking sheet with fish fillets. Do not overlap fillets.
Drizzle fish with olive oil (or oil of choice).
Season fish with preferred seafood seasoning.
Place cooking sheet with fish into preheated oven.
Bake 5-10 mins or until fork-tender and flaking.
Remove cooked fish from oven.
Add cooked fish to large mixing bowl.
Shred fish.

STEP 5: COMBINE INGREDIENTS & MAKE CRAPPIE CAKES

Add to the bowl of shredded fish: chopped vegetables, buttered crackers, mustard, mayonnaise, eggs, additional seafood seasoning (if desired), and salt and pepper to taste
Stir all ingredients together until mixture is firm and malleable.
If mixture doesn’t hold together, add more buttered crackers until mixture reaches preferred firmness.
Form mixture into palm-sized patties. Set aside.

STEP 6: FRY THE CRAPPIE CAKES

Heat oil in pan or skillet to medium-high heat (if measuring with a thermometer, heat to 350°F).
Fry first side until edges turn golden brown, then flip.
Fry second side until golden brown.
Patties are fully cooked when golden brown and firm all around.

STEP 7: ASSEMBLE THE BURGER

Apply aioli sauce generously to bottom bun.
Add spinach, lettuce or preferred greens to top bun.
Now just add the crappie cake to the middle, serve, and dig in!

LOCAL CONSERVATION IS TOTALLY CRAPPIE

Local conservation makes recipes like this possible. The fact is that fish need clean waters to thrive, and conservation plays a big part in that. Protecting land along local rivers and streams doesn’t just benefit freshwater species like crappie, it also sustains the quality of drinking water and provides opportunities to swim, paddle, and fish.

If you love fishing and outdoor recreation, help protect local waters by partnering with TRLT today!